2007 Ruth Shonle Cavan Young Scholar Award presented by the American
Society of Criminology
2007 American Society of Criminology Michael J. Hindelang Award for
the Most Outstanding Contribution to Research in Criminology
By comparing how adolescents are prosecuted and punished in juvenile and
criminal (adult) courts, Aaron Kupchik finds that prosecuting
adolescents in criminal court does not fit with our cultural
understandings of youthfulness. As a result, adolescents who are
transferred to criminal courts are still judged as juveniles.
Ultimately, Kupchik makes a compelling argument for the suitability of
juvenile courts in treating adolescents. Judging Juveniles suggests
that justice would be better served if adolescents were handled by the
system designed to address their special needs.